Advantages

Disadvantages

Cheap eye shadows that don't feel cheap to me

I have loads of eye shadows but I don't have many that are of a natural tone that can be used for every day use. While waiting in my local chemist I saw a display cabinet called LP, which stands for Laura Paige. Laura prides herself on quality cosmetics that are made in the UK and never tested on animals, which is something I worry about when purchasing 'cheap' cosmetics. Laura's cosmetics are great value for money, LP brand has been around for 25 years and many products only available in the UK.

While looking for a neutral eye shadow I came across a palette of four eye shadows with beautiful soft natural colours that are shimmery. The four colours consist of light/medium brown, off white/cream, which is beautiful to use on the brow bone, a darker brown with a hint of gold and a bronze golden eye shadow.The packaging (see picture above) is very basic and does look cheap, the front of the palette is see through so you can see your eye shadows inside with LP Sunset Shimmer Bronzing Powders. Yes that is right bronzing powders. Personally I could not and would not use this palette as a bronzer on my face, there is too much shimmer and it would just look very unnatural. So I bought it to use an eye shadows and nothing else. Opening the flip lid inside the palette the eye shadows are cased in square pans that looks like you get a lot of product for your money, there is also a little mirror at the bottom and two brush applicators. The back of the palette is black with a list of ingredients, where it is made (China of all places) and that it has a shelf life of 12 months. Although Laura Paige doesn't endorse animal testing I am worried she doesn't state this on her packaging. You get all this for an amazing price of £2.54, if you can't purchase this from your local chemist you can purchase it from this website provenlook.com where you will find more of Laura's makeup.

Taking it home I was also a little worried because it is a 'cheap' product it wouldn't be pigmented enough and last all day. I had no need to worry about this.Throwing the brush applicators that came with the palette into the bin and using my own, I applied my eye shadow primer and set to work. To play it safe for the time I used the lightest shade of the brown (first one) and applied it all over my lid. The eye shadows are soft and my eye shadow brush picked up the eye shadow easily. Applying to my lid was easy and glided on with little effort at all all because of their smooth texture, the brown I used and like all the eyeshades are shimmery but not in your face or over the top, your eye makeup will still look elegant. With some eye shadows I have used especially the cheaper brands you have to go over and over the same spot to get any colour on your lids. Not with this one, you don't need a lot of product to get the desired effect you are aiming for, you can apply a little for a soft wash of colour or you can build it up for a more dense colour.The Second colour in the palette and the lightest shade is more of a cream, which I used to blend in the brown so I had no harsh eye shadow line and to take up to the brow bone to highlight. I was surprised at how easily the both colours blended together with one another and again with no effort required. Even though it is a product for under £3 it feels more expensive in the way it performs.

The good test for all eye shadows is in the lasting effect, I have used eye shadow primers in the past from expensive ranges and the eye shadows have ended up creasing and not lasting a few hours never mind a day. My trusted eye shadow primer from ELF Cosmetics for £1.50 has stood the test of time for me and is the only thing I have found that works for me and I am very pleased to say this eye shadow lasted all day, it was first applied at 10am and was still in tact when I took it off at 9pm that same day. Fantastic. I carried on using this palette for the rest of the week and more after mixing eye shadows and creating lovely looks all with spectacular results that I can not complain about, my experience with this palette has all been of a positive one. Another good thing is in the morning when I am a bit of a rush I can apply with quickly with little effort.

This really was a bargain buy and I may go back and see what other eye shadows Laura has on offer.